‘I still grieve for my baby’s first year’

Shaun O’Donnell was sentenced to eight years in prison for the attack.

by Louise Doyle

A NEW mum who was raped while sleeping in bed beside her newborn and partner has spoken of the grief she still feels for the lost first year with her baby.

The young mother was raped as she slept with her eight-week-old baby in their Donegal home.

Her partner, who was also asleep, was in the same bed when Shaun O’Donnell got in between the couple and carried out the horrific act.

O’Donnell (34), originally from Fintown, but living in Leeds, West Yorkshire, was handed down an eight-year sentence last month after he was found guilty of rape and sexual assault on March 26, 2021.

Speaking to the Donegal News, the woman said: “I still can’t look at pictures of my baby in the first year of their life. It’s like a grief.

“Before this happened, I was in a love bubble with my partner. We had just moved into our first home and welcomed our first child. We were so happy, but it was all ripped away from me and shredded to pieces.

“Even going for a walk with my new baby was so difficult because I was so worried I would meet someone related to Shaun. He took so much more from me that night other than the rape itself.”

O’Donnell had been invited over that night to have drinks with the couple in their home. A sister of the woman’s partner was also invited. The woman said the four had a good night. She was the first to go to bed that evening.

The woman told of, having gone to bed, being awoken by sexual activity.

“I woke up being penetrated from behind. I thought it was my partner, but when I turned around, it was Shaun. I was in the shower straight away after it happened, I felt disgusting. I felt like I was washing insects out of me. I had just had a baby eight weeks prior.”

The woman said she went into “fight or flight mode”, and over the next few weeks she attended the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) and reported the incident to the gardai, whom she has described as her “heroes”.

“I went into flight or fight mode and I knew I had to go to the guards. I didn’t know what to expect, and it never occurred to me at all that people may not believe me. But I have to say I can’t praise the guards enough. There were two in particular who were just so good to me. I knew they believed me, and that meant so much because I knew I didn’t have to prove it.

“I have suffered with severe anxiety and I didn’t feel safe in my own home afterwards. I had to get cameras installed. I got on a list for counselling which took ages to come through, but once it did it really helped.

“I am so happy that I pursued this because it would have destroyed me if I didn’t.

“I am so happy I did it. I have a happy, bubbly personality by nature and I didn’t want that to be taken away from me. It wasn’t an easy place to be , but I now have a great feeling of pride in myself.

“I will never be able to thank the guards enough, they were my heroes,” said the woman.

Sentencing O’Donnell, Mr Justice David Keane said O’Donnell’s offending was a “fundamental, almost indescribable breach of trust” which took place in the victim’s home, in the presence of her partner and young baby.

He said this should have been a place of “ultimate comfort and security” for the woman, but became one of degradation. The judge also noted the “grave harm” caused to the victim as an aggravating factor.

He said O’Donnell’s offence was “opportunistic” and “committed on impulse”.

The woman said she is happy with the sentence handed down to O’Donnell, who was supported in court by his partner and children.

“I was delighted with the sentence he was handed down. I actually had thought that if he was convicted he would just get months or up to a year. It was a strange feeling that day because we left on a serious low because it consumed our lives for three-and-a-half years. But I did get my justice.

“It hit my partner a lot after the sentencing, the whole thing was so draining for us as a family.”

The woman said she is “proud of herself” for having pursued the matter.

“I have never felt so proud of myself. It was so difficult, and it was like I ran a marathon at the end of it. After the verdict I was crying. He (O’Donnell) showed no emotion, he didn’t even flinch.

“I hope that by speaking out it will encourage other women to do the same.

“He is where he belongs and I am getting on with my life.”

The woman said she is now free to put focus back on the positive things in her life.

“I have so many hopes for the future. We are in the middle of building our house, we are about five months from getting it finished and moving in. I’m really excited about that, it feels like a new chapter.”

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